last updated on October 30, 2026
For day 3 of my 12 Days of Thanksgiving Recipes, we are making this dreamy apple cake with cinnamon whipped cream! This cake is soft, moist, and packed with apple flavor. Everyone will love it on the Thanksgiving dessert table!
This cake is a simple, one-layer cake that comes together quickly. A lot of the time, this style of cake is called a snack cake, and I’m obsessed with that title because don’t we all just want to snack on cake all day? And it feels like when we call it a snack cake, then we get to do just that.
ingredients needed for this apple cake with cinnamon whipped cream
apple cake
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup buttermilk (or 3/4 cup milk + 2 tsp apple cider vinegar)
- 1/4 cup oil (canola, vegetable, or olive)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 3/4 cups flour (230 grams)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups apples, peeled and chopped (any apple variety will work)
cinnamon whipped cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
how to make this apple cake with cinnamon whipped cream
This apple cake couldn’t be easier to make! We start by combining the brown sugar, buttermilk, egg, oil, and vanilla in a bowl, whisking until smooth. Add the flour (I like to measure it with a kitchen scale), cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, then fold everything together until just combined.
Add the chopped apples to a small bowl with a dash of cinnamon and toss to combine. Pour the cinnamon apples into the cake batter and fold in until just combined. Transfer the batter to a lined 8×8 pan and bake in a preheated 325°F oven. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
While the cake is cooling, make the whipped cream. Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and cinnamon to a bowl. Whisk with a hand mixer until soft peaks form. When the cake is completely cooled, add the cinnamon whipped cream on top. You can add as much or as little as you’d like! Slice with a large knife and enjoy!
how to store this apple cake
If you have any leftover cake, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay good for 3-4 days! If you have leftover whipped cream (that you didn’t put on the cake), keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. It can be used on so many things! You could add it to your pancakes or to any of your Thanksgiving pies! So if you have any leftover, save it because it is gold.
other recipes you will love
- apple blondie cheesecake bars
- pumpkin spice candied nuts
- pumpkin spice donuts
- apple crisp cookies
- apple crumb cake
apple cake with cinnamon whipped cream
Ingredients
apple cake
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup buttermilk (or 3/4 cup milk + 2 tsp apple cider vinegar)
- 1/4 cup oil (canola, vegetable, or olive)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 3/4 cup flour (230 grams)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups apples, peeled and cubed (any apple variety will work)
cinnamon whipped cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 F. Add the brown sugar, buttermilk, oil, egg, and vanilla to a large bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and mix until the dry ingredients are just combined into the wet ingredients.
- Add the chopped apple to a small bowl and add a dash of cinnamon (about 1/4 tsp) and toss to combine. Add the apples to the cake batter and fold them in.
- Pour the batter into a lined and greased 8×8" pan (you can also use a 9×9" pan, but will have to slightly decrease the bake time). Transfer to the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- While the cake cools, make the whipped cream. Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and cinnamon to a large bowl and whisk with a hand mixer until soft peaks form.
- Once the cake has completely cooled, add the cinnamon whipped cream on top and spread evenly across the cake. Slice with a large knife and enjoy!
I made this for Thanksgiving dinner and my family absolutely loved it! Super fluffy and yummy, not too sweet as well. Thank you so much, I will bake this again ??
yay i’m so glad you and your fam enjoyed!!!
I made this for Thanksgiving dinner and my family absolutely loved it! Super fluffy and yummy, not too sweet as well. Thank you so much, I will bake this again ??
yay i’m so glad you and your fam enjoyed!!!
This was a HUGE hit with the two groups I made it for. I made a few adjustments – added chopped walnuts as well as 1/2 tsp allspice and nutmeg to the chopped apples. Added a little extra flavor.
Totally making this again!
yay i’m so glad!! those sound like such great additions — especially the walnuts! yum!
This was a HUGE hit with the two groups I made it for. I made a few adjustments – added chopped walnuts as well as 1/2 tsp allspice and nutmeg to the chopped apples. Added a little extra flavor.
Totally making this again!
yay i’m so glad!! those sound like such great additions — especially the walnuts! yum!
i made this for my family’s first british thanksgiving and it was absolutely delicious way to end the evening off! it was perfectly fluffy and just the right sweetness. everyone who had a slice is already asking for it to be made again! thank you!
i’m so honored this made it in for the first fam thanksgiving! so glad everyone enjoyed!
My daughter-in-law Hanna made this and it was wonderful. Didn’t change a thing! I put this in my “keeper” cookbook!
yay i’m so glad it’s a keeper!